Botswana scale through to seal maiden WAFCON berth

Botswana secured a fist ever ticket to TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations, on away goals rule, despite a 2-0 second leg, second round defeat against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Lesego Radiakanyo's brace and Refilwe Tholakele's opener handed the Zebras a first leg 3-1 away win in Harare on Friday, leaving the Zimbabweans' hopes hanging in the balance ahead of the crucial second leg at Francistown Stadium on Wednesday.

In Francistown, the Mighty Warriors proved the more determined side in the bid to revive their qualification dream but were forced to a drab goalless draw at half time by the home side.

On resuming the second half, Zimbabwe increased their onslaughts and were rewarded with a breakthrough in the 66th minute thanks to Emmaculate Msipa's brilliant strike.

The desperate visitors continued their search for more goals and they notched the second of the match off the foot of Priviledge Mupeti four minutes later but could not add more till the end.

With a 3-3 aggregate score, the Warriors bowed out of the race on away goals rule as the Zebras went through, having scored more away goals in the lively all COSAFA doubleheader.

This also means Botswana are the latest team to qualify for the first time in their history for this year's 12-nation competition, after Burkina Faso and Burundi had earlier confirmed their berths for the continental showpiece.